| Summary: | Newsletter began with Vol. 1, No. 1 (June 1983) and ceased with Vol. 3, No. 12 (December 1985). Continued by Bexar Tracks. BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIE1Y PO. BOX 60M ·SAN ANTONIO, TEXA~ 7H209 VOL. 3 NO. 12 1986 ANNUAL MEETING The site;. •of this year's Annual Meeting is the Texas Lions' Camp in Kerrville, in the beautiful Texas Hill Country. This year's theme is "Populations." We decided that developing an understanding and appreciation for the populations we strive to protect will make us all better conservationists. I've lined up a group of well-qualified experts to provide the leadership, tried to allow more time in the scheduling, and put an emphasis on "hands-on experiences" in the workshops. Hopefully, you will find the agenda exciting, fun and informative. Because lodging space is limited, I strongly suggest that you get you reservations in as soon as possible. Details on various components of the meeting will appear in next month's newsletter. Please call me if you can help in any way with the meeting. (826-4698) Susan Rust, Program Chair DECEMBER 1985 Bexar Audubon General Meeting Thursday, December 19 7:30 PM, Witte Museum Auditorium "Rescuing Wildlife" While the broad goals of Bexar Audubon address wildlife conservation through promoting environmental education and species and habitat preservation, most of us, personally, have sympathetic feelings for individual animals in trouble. Lynn Cuny, Executive Director of Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc., put those feelings to work in a truly meaningful way. Since 1978, when it was incorporated, Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, Inc. has been accepting, caring for, and rehabilitating injured, orphaned, abused, displaced and "ex-pet" wild animals and returning them to their natural habitats. So in this season of goodwill and giving we thought our members might like to hear more about this successful San Antonio project. As has become our tradition at the December meeting, we ask that you bring a sampling of your holiday goodies to share with others. You might plan to come a bit early to do some last minute gift-buying and to exchange holiday greetings. Xl. ·,l~ . - . •' ~ .,.--.- .1_, ., . <,,:· · ~"···, . J • ·~ •• • • Watch OWL/TV, Audubon's show for kids, Sunday nights at 6:30 on KLRN-TV, Channel 9. DECEMBER JANUARY 5 Bexar Audubon Board 19 Meeting. 7:30 p.m., Patty Leslie's, 328 Larchmont. BEXAR AUDUBON GENERALil MEETING. "New Hope for the HAPPY NEW YEAR! 8 HAPPY CHANUKAH! 11 Bexar Audubon outings meeting. 6:30 p.m., 168 Homeless & Hurt." Lynn 9 Cuny, Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation. Annual 116 member's sharing of holiday· treats. SA Audubon general meeting. Chevy Chase. 25 MERRY CHRISTMAS! BEXAR AUDUBON GENERAL MEETING. "Problems for Waterfowl." Dan Moulton, TPWD waterfowl biologiRt. 12 San Antonio Audubon general meeting. 7:00 p.m. Witte Museum. 13-15 We 1 de rIA ran sa s Coast a 1 Outing (BAS/SC). Nettie & Stu Birnbaum, 697-8093; Helen Kiss, 494-5444. 13-15 Prescribed burning - East Texas (TNC). Call Susan Rust 224/8774/826-4698. 17 Sierra Club general meeting. 7:30 p.m., Unitarian Church. 17 Native Plant Society general meeting. 7:00 p.m., SA Botanical Center. Texas Coast Trip (Welder Wildlife Foundation/UT Marine Station, Friday Dec. 13 - Sunday Dec. 15): Helen Kiss, 494-5444; Nettie & Stu Birnbaum, 697-8093. We begin on Friday at 9:00 PM at the gate of Welder Wildlife Research Foundation, and proceed to camp for the night in the rotunda. On Saturday, biologist Gene Blacklock will lead us in an exploration of the Foundation's coastal habitat and will introduce us to the fascinating research on the dynamics of wildlife and plant populations that Foundation scientists are conducting. In addition we will have a chance to examine the large bird study skin collection that by itself will teach us much about the amazing adaptations that birds have evolved to survive. We will spend Saturday night at the marine laboratory at Port Aransas where we' 11 tour the facility and hear a program on coastal conservation concerns. On Sunday morning we will explore the dunes and consider the way this area has looked throughout the past. The trip is estimated to cost each partj_cipant $25.00, which will include meals and lodging. This is a joint trip between BAS and the Sierra Club and is limited to 25 participants. Space will be filled on a first come, first served basis; a deposit of $1).00 is required to reserve a space. 23 Bexar Audubon Board Meeting. 7:30 p.m., Nora Driver's, 9514 LaRue, 826-8531. 25 Texas Environmental Coalition meeting. South Padre Island. "Ocean Incineration & Gulf Coast marine ecology." Call Susan Rust, 224-8774; 826-4698. 26 Winter Botanizing at Friedrich Park (BAS/NPS). Patty Leslie, 824-1235. 28 Native Plant Society general meeting. "Preserving Natural Diversity" Susan Rust, Texas Nature Conservancy. Sandylands Preserve, (Dec. 13-15). Burn weekend at the Texas Nature Conservancy Preserve in the Big Thicket near Beaumont. Primitive camping available at the Preserve, or stay in a motel in Beaumont. For more information, call the Nature Conservancy, 224-8774. Winter Botanizing at Friedrich Park, (Jan. 26). For more information, call Patty Leslie, 824-1235. THANKS ••• to Jim 0 'Donnell, £or his fascinating and beautifully illustrated presentation on Black-capped vireos at the November meeting. I l Presidents Letter In keeping with the spirit of the season, here are a few more ideas for creative holiday gift-giving: 1) .An Audubon Adventures classroom. Money-wise, this is the most expensive gift on the list. $20 will buy up to 32 elementary school children an education gift that keeps giving for an entire academic year, and, I hope, for a lifetime. We still have 17 teachers in the Northeast Independent School District who would like to participate in this program this year. A check payable to Bexar Audubon for any · amount, earmarked for Audubon Adventures, wi 11 make their Christmas merrier! 2) A letter to Mayor Frank Cooksey of Austin. Those of you who attended the November BAS general meeting now know of Jim 0 1 Donnell's fascinating research on Black-capped Vireo populations on the Davenport ranch in Austin. ~he Davenport ranch is believed to have the highest density· of breeding BCV' s anywhere in the bird's limited and shrinking range, and the ranch may in fact be vital to the survival of this bird species! Austin will soon be deciding the fate of the Davenport ranch, and it seems entirely possible that if the Mayor and City Council of Austin receive enough letters in favor of ensuring the security of the birds' breeding ground that a compromise may be reached which will save this portion of the Davenport ranch f r om impending development. Write Mayor Cooksey and tell him how important those birds are to you and other birdwatching tourists and you may be able to make Christmas merrier for many future generations of vireos and vireo-watchers. His address is: Mayor Frank Cooksey P.O. Box 1088 Austin, TX 78767 3) A letter to Texas Land Commissioner Garry Mauro urging him to deny Central Power and Light's application for an easement that would allow them to construct a high voltage powerline across eight miles of the Laguna Madre to South Padre Island. Even the Texas Parks Commission has voted unanimously in support of the "environmentalist" position on this one. That position is that other reasonable alternatives exist for routing the power line; alternatives which would not threaten the survival of large birds such as the Brown Pelican (which only recently has begun to make a comeback from the DDT devastation of the 60's), and which would not threaten the pristine beauty of the lower Laguna Madre. A letter from you to Garry Mauro might ma_ke Christmas merrier for many fisherman (and fisher-birds) in the lower Laguna Madre. His address is: Commissione~- Garry Mauro General Land Office Stephan F. Austin Building Austin, TX 78701 4) A commitment to serve on a Bexar Audubon Society committee next year. Such a commitment would make ~ Christmas much merrier! 5) Most of all, I urge each of you to set aside some quiet time for yourself at some point during this holiday season. It seems that one of the principal victims of the "throw-away society" is time for reflection. We get so caught up in the constant-temperature, Christmas-shopping hassles of modern existence that we forget to set aside time just to sit and think and reflect. This is a real tragedy, considering that regeneration is a necessary part of any biological cycle, and that reflection is, in a sense, regeneration of one's thoughts. I used to wonder why the beginning of our calendar year is in the "dead" of winter. I suspect it has something to do with the fact that winter is not a time of biological death; rather, it is a time of biological regeneration. It is a time of superficial quiescence while the "inanimate" forces of nature rage. Winter is, or should be, a time of regeneration; a time of withdrawing one 1 s energies from the activity of life's summer and turn1• ng on. e I s attenti' on · to what is within. Give yourself a gift of quiet time. It will help you rearrange your priorities, put things in proper perspective, and recharge you batteries in anticipation of the many challenges that await you in the year ahead. A gift of quiet time may make your Christmas merrier! Sincerely, • ·: j_:; . . Byron Stone BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING PRE-REGISTRATION FORM Please return no later than January 31, 1986 · Name: Address: <Street> <City> Number Participating Registration: Lodging: Dinner: Breakfast: Box Lunch: EVENTS: Indicate number of participants: Introduction to Populations Deer/game bird census Reptile/amphibian census Plant Populations <Zip> Cost Each Total <$8:00/member $12.00/ non-member> $10.00 $5.00 $5.00 $5.00 Grand Total: Bird Banding Small Mammal Census Social Spiders Evening Program Tree Census Flower Census Make checks payable to: BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIETY Return ·this form to: Susan P. Rust, 168 Chevy Chase, SA, TX 78209. For further information call (512) 826-4698. (7:00-8:00 a.m. is a good time to catch me, otherwise just be persistent.) news notes . PEREGRINE NESTS - Seven peregrine falcon eyries have been identified in Big Bend National Park by USFWS. Ten young peregrines fledged from six sites, which is the best ever reported {or this species in the park. However, officials note that eggshell thinning as a result of DDT contamination is approaching the danger point. ELEPHANT MT. RANCH-C. G. Johnson of Houston has donated 23,000-acre Elephant Mt. Ranch to Texas Parks & Wildlife to be used as a Wildlife Management Area. The ranch is located in Brewster Co. , 20 miles south of Alpine, and is the single largest donation of land ever received by the Dept. name our newsletter! Nominations for o.u r newsletter's name have been flocking in. Here are the top three for your consideration. We' 11 vote on our favorite at the December general meeting: Bexar Facts (Bexar Fax) Bexar Tracks (Bexar Trax) Nature's Call-Letter The Audubon Hotline, (202) 547-9017, is ready to take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A recorded message gives you background information and current status of Audubon's priority issues. The message is updated every week. The Hotline lets you know when sounding off will do the most good. For more information on legislative issues, contact the Audubon Society's capital office. Phone: (202) 547-9009. The address is: 645 Pennsylvania Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20009. DON'T BE SCOOPED Keep up with environmental issues. Find out when decisions are being made in the nation's capital and what you can do to help. SATURDAY: 11:00- 12:00 12:00- 1:00 BEXAR AUDUBON ANNUAL MEETING - 1986 February 22 - 23 Texas Lions' Camp Kerrville, Texas Registration and settling in. Lunch Presentation <dining hall> "Population Dynamics - An Introduction" Paul Robertson, Evolutionary Ecologist 1:30 - 4:30 •• Field Trip <Kerr Wildlife Management Area> Concurrent Workshops on Vertebrate Censusing "Censusing Deer and Game Birds" Donnie Harmel, Wildlife Biologist "Censusing Reptiles and Amphibians" 5:00 - 6:00 •• Presentation <Dining Hall> "Population Structure - Sociality" Ruth Buskirk, Behavioral Ecologist 6:00 - 7:00 •• Social <Dining Hall> 7:00 - 8:00 8:00 - 9:30 9:30 - ???? SUNDAY: "Sharing Unknowns and Experiences" You Dinner Business Meeting Presentation "Population Growth -- Past Trends and Future Implications" Richard Harris, Social Demographer Campfire 6:30 - 8:00 •• Workshop on Vertebrate Censusing 8:00 - 8:30 8:30 - 10:00 "Censusing Birds - The Hows and Whys" Jim O'Donnell, Biologist Breakfast Workshop on Vertebrate Censusing "Censusing Small Mammals" Rex Wahl, Zoologist 10:00- 12:30 •• Field Trip Lunch Presentation "Plant Community Structure" Bill Van Auken, Community Ecologist 12:30- 3:00 •. Concurrent Workshops on Plant Censusing "Censusing the Forbs/Grasses" Patty Leslie, Horticulturalist "Censusing the Shrubs/Trees" Susan Rust, Conservation Ecologist THE END Fortune Shines on PrOwlers or Hoot-Out at the OK PrOwl Eight bleary-eyed souls set forth at 4 a.m. on Saturday Nov. 9 with one thought foremost in mind: "Are owls really worth this sleep-deprived misery?" At the first stop, I expected Barred Owls and Hoped for Screech. After 5 or 10 minutes of what I'm sure many of the group thought was bizarre and ludicrous vocal behavior on the part of Steve Hawkins and myself, something equally bizarre responded from the darkness - a Barred Owl - and not far away' either. But the rascal remained out of sight. Another answered from farther away, and the four of us hooted and called for awhile. I guess our nearby owl tired of this, however, and he shortly moved on to raise a ruchus with the distant hooter. Well, fine and dandy, several people had heard their first Barred Owls, but we hadn't seen any. We moved on to a couple of Horned Owl hangouts, but nary a hoot was heard. Not yet daunted, and with only a half hour or so of darkness remaining, we headed for the last stop of the night. En route, I decided to try a small creek for Great Horned or maybe the elusive Screech Owls. We got out of the car, and between the increasingly vigorous crowing of several roosters, we could barel v make out the far-away hoots of a Great Horned Owl. Despite however, budge. resigned my best efforts, the owl would not I had just about myself to hearing and not seeing owls on this prOwl and was ready to leave, when I thought I saw a shadow land in a nearby tree. A flick of the flashlight confirmed the presence of a large owl - a Barred Owl! This was a most curious and cooperative owl. For several minutes he silently stared into the flashlight beam as we silently stared back. All could see well his round facial disk and dark eyes. I hooted and he hooted back. I hooted some more and he flew across the road, landing in a large oak tree, turning to face us squarely. We then received the most severe "hooting out" that I have ever been witness or party to. The owl 1 s rising indignation was clear by the ruffle of his feathers and the tone of his hoot. We had worn out our welcome; we were unwanted intruders on this owl 1 s turf. We left the owl still sitting in the oak tree, still hooting. As the day began to dawn, we made two more stops. Both were, of course, anti-climactic. Our tally for the night: Screech Owls - 0, Great Horned Owls - 2, and Barred Owls - 3. The Barred Owl was a "lifer" for many, and several people in the group had never even seen an owl before. Many thanks to John Carter for trucking us around. Despite the sleep deprivation, I really enjoyed the people and the owls. The consensus of the group was this trip was worth the-early hour because it was an "OK PrOwl." SOUTH TEXAS RECAP The third annual South Texas trip is now history, and a fine history it is. The weather cooperated and all 24 participants found their way to Bentson State Park without effort. The greenjays and chachalacas were bouncing abotit the entire time, and other birds of interest were encountered at various times, including a red-breasted grosbeak, 1 it tle green and bel ted kingfishers, shovelers, pied-billed grebes, and roadrunners. We looked in vain for the Northern jacana which had been sighted the day before. The coyotes cooperated, too, and we were treated to some wonderful singing by two groups of them early Saturday morning. The Rio Grande Valley Nature Center, run by Frontera Audubon volunteers and only a year old, was very impressive. It is a wonderful teaching facility with good displays, large work area, and a good native plants trail. Dr. Lonard was full of fascinating facts about the native vegetation and we were joined by several of the local Native Plant Project members as well. At Santa Ana NWR Bob Schumacher and Neeta Fuller gave us an excellent update on the Rio Grande Valley Corridor Project, one of the most exciting examples of cooperative conservation anywhere in the state. You 1 11 be hearing more about it in the months to come. Afterward we walked through part of the refuge discussing plants, animals, politics and prospects. See RECAP RECAP, cont. The long drive to Nuevo Progresso was rewarded as in the past with a delicious dinner at Arturo's and, for some, a bottle of whatever and assorted border bargains. The trip ended Sunday with a visit to the Baratell habitat, a truly fascinating area and the last holdout of the native citrus, the baretta. Other rare plants and an amazing assortment of cacti were much in evidence, and the expert guidance of Jim Everitt and Bob Schumacher made it all the more memorable. Before leaving for home . ' tn.p participants voted to donate the excess from the their reservation deposits to the Nature Center. Plans are already formulated for the 1986 trip. Get your reservations in early! AUDUBON COUNCIL OF TEXAS It was gloomy outside the Research Center at Buescher State Park but it didn't matter at 'all to those who had come from Audubon chapters all across the state to attend the Fall '85 ACT meeting Thirteen of the 17 chapter~ ~ere there' sharing new ldeas, environmental concerns' and friendship. Bastrop County Audubon is to be commended for the thorough planning which made this one of the best ACT meetings ever. The morning sessions concentrated on the imp?rtance of lobbying to ach1eve good environmental policy. Pres. Wilma Anderson shared guidelines from the National Office and representatives from Central Texas Lignite Watch presented a case study of a successful grass-roots effort. The chapter representatives reported on the activities of the chapters over the past six months, and there was a brief business meeting. After lunch attendees toured the Cancer Center and birded and botanized i~ the surrounding area. Later in the afternoon several chapters presented specific environmental concerns which they felt have state-wide importance, such as the powerline across Laguna Madre the Lower Rio Grande - V~iley Project and the Audubon Energy Plan. (More information on these issues will appear later.) A spectacular dinner was capped by a presentation on "Man and Environmental change in Texas" by Dr. Robin Doughty of UT and a rousing session of singing by environmental songwriter, Bill Oliver. For those who were able to spend the night, a morning bird walk and canoe trip on the Colorado River ended the meeting on Sunday. Next Spring's meeting will be hosted by Prairies & Timbers chapter in McKinney. I hope to see many of our members there. Susan Rust, ACT Rep. CHRISTMAS COUNT INFO The annual San Antonio Christmas Bird Count, sponsored by the San Antonio Audubon Society will be held on Sunday: December 22. This is an opportunity for birders to have a great time trying to see as many species of birds as possible in a circumscribed area from dawn (or before) to dusk. We need birders of all levels of experience to help out, from the rankest tenderfoot to the most grizzled 600-cl u b ber. I invite all of you to participate in this Audubon Society tradition. For more information, call Byron Stone at 699-1971 or Dick Cudworth at 828-16L7. Dates for other counts: Welder Refuge - Thursday December 19 - Gene Blacklock, 1-364-2643 (w) Corpus Christi - Saturday, December 21 Gene Blacklock Comstock- Friday, December 27 Sue Wiedenfeld, 1-995-2300 Del Rio December Wiedenfeld Saturday, 2 8 Sue Boerne -Wednesday, January 1 - Sue Wiedenfeld. , --- BEXAR AUDUBON DIRECTORY Bexar Audubon Society would like to create a directory containing the names and addresses of all members. Please complete the following form with theinformation you wish to appear. NAME: ADDRESS: CITY/ZIP: PHONE: HOME WORK Information must be received by31 December 1985 to be included in the 1986 Directory. Please return the information to the Membership Committee either at the October/November general meetings or contact Judi Koger by mail or phone: Judi Koger 9140 Timber Path #3401 San Antonio, TX 78250 647-3524 It is not too late to purchase this year's non-game stamps, decals, and posters, graced by the beautiful whooping crane. Don't forget that the money from the purchase of these items is placed in a special fund administered by Texas Parks and Wildlife that is used for habitat acquisition research, teaching, and protection of non-game wildlife. This year's stamps are available through December, and would make unusual and thoughtful holiday gifts and stocking-stuffers. :~+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++· + + + + + + + + t NONGAME POSTER/STAMP/DECAL ORDER FORM t ++ + Please send: + + Number Item Unit Cost Total + + + t Poster $20.00 t + + + Decal $5.00 + + + ++ Stamp $5.00 ++ ++ To: ++ + h~: + + + + Address: + + + t Enclosed is my tax-deductible check for: made payable to BEXAR:t + AUDUBON SOCIETY. Send to Bexar Audubon Society, P.O. Box 6084, San Antonio, + + Texas 78209 + + + + + + + + + ++ -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ BEXAR AUDUBON SOCIE1Y NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U. S. POSTAGE PAID SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS Permit No. 590 PO. BOX 60R4 ·SAN ANTONIO. TEXA'-; 7H209
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